Print edition for November 13, 2003

Stomach illnesses increase locally: By Timothy Pratt; The Las Vegas metropolitan area is seeing a sudden increase in people complaining of stomach illnesses, the Clark County Health District said.

High court told Mosley fine wrong: CARSON CITY -- An attorney for District Judge Donald Mosley said Wednesday the state Judicial Discipline Commission did not give due process rights to the judge when it found he had violated the judicial code and fined him $5,000.

Spat leads to arrest of alleged drug dealers: A pair of alleged drug dealers made the mistake of pulling into the parking lot of a Henderson junior high school to argue last week and that led to their arrests as well as the confiscation of $8,400 worth of illegal narcotics and an apparent customer list, Clark County School District Police said Wednesday.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Wynn accelerates plans for hotel lobby: So, if you are a casino developer looking for a unique tourist attraction with an aura of fabulousness, money and class, why not drop a Ferrari dealership in the lobby of your new hotel?

LVCVA renews ad contract with R&R Partners: R&R Partners, which has held the lucrative Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority advertising contract for the past 22 1/2 years, has won a five-year contract extension and a new option for five more years from the LVCVA's board of directors.

Nevada's own: Nellis-based Thunderbirds perform here this weekend: Jace Radke; A dry lake bed in an uninhabited stretch of Nevada desert northwest of Las Vegas would normally only be disturbed by the skittering of reptiles and the wind blowing through the sagebrush and yucca.

Ethics panel queries Mack: Las Vegas City Councilman Michael Mack this morning appeared before state ethics commissioners who are trying to determine whether Mack broke ethics rules in connection with business ties to Mayor Oscar Goodman's son.

Williams' City Hall colleague placed on leave: Sito Negron; Another employee in the city of Las Vegas Neighborhood Services Department has been placed on leave, becoming the third person in that office ordered away from work this week.

Maxfield replaces Kincaid-Chauncey as chairman of County Commission: Clark County Commissioner Chip Maxfield can add another title to his name: chairman of the board, a post he gained because of federal charges against his predecessor.

Debate-athon: GOP Senate still talking: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- They are still talking.

State again denies DOE use of water for Yucca: CARSON CITY -- For a second time, state Engineer Hugh Ricci has denied the application to use water to build and operate Yucca Mountain, saying it would be "detrimental to the public interest."

Colombians criticize Powell comments on special status: By Timothy Pratt; A local association of Colombians planned to protest today against Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent opposition to granting a special immigration status to thousands from that South American country who are fleeing its violence.

Convicted killer's lawyers ask judge to grant new trial: Erica D. Johnson; Attorneys defending the man sentenced to death in the killing of a 9-year-old North Las Vegas girl say their client deserves a new trial because of new evidence and alleged misconduct by prosecutors.

Foothill, Las Vegas square off in battle of 4A heavyweights: Adam Candee; He likes what he sees from his team this week, so naturally, Foothill coach Ray Fenton wants his Falcons to come out sluggish and unmotivated in today's practice.

Veterans hospital has narrow miss: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Efforts to change the federal program to re-evaluate the veterans health care system threatened the planned new veterans hospital and nursing home in Las Vegas for about an hour Wednesday, but no change ultimately took place.

Catching up with ...: Catching up with ...

Plan would steer new growth to west: Overall the proposed comprehensive/master plan, which was reviewed without much criticism Wednesday night at City Hall, recommends the city plans for future growth remain as they are. Officials said the plan is very similar to last city comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 1991.

Fight schedule: At the Fort Cheyenne Casino, North Las Vegas, Romaro Johnson vs. Glen Rayburn, 10, super middleweights.

Deposed juvenile judge takes case to Supreme Court: Erica D. Johnson; Family Court Judge Cynthia Dianne Steel has taken her battle to extend her term as juvenile judge to the state Supreme Court, and she doesn't plan to leave her post without a fight.

Sports briefs for November 13, 2003: In response to a USA Today report that the school had inquired about full membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference, athletic director Kevin White said today the university would "continue to monitor the landscape."

Columnist Dean Juipe: Nevada Partners to close its doors: Dean Juipe; When it opened eight years ago, it was heralded not only for its benefits as a community center and job-training site, but as an outlet for boys and girls looking to learn about boxing or just stay busy during their free time.

Health concerns won't halt bouts: Dean Juipe; One boxer has a plate in his head that he failed to disclose until confronted on the issue, while another underwent an MRI that indicated an abnormality was present.

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 7:05 p.m.

Galena should provide big test for downstate powers: Nick Christensen; Coach Bob Kelly's Durango Trailblazers have lost just one match this year, but if you ask him, the toughest challenge for his team is still ahead.

Gaughan's approach: Been there, done that: Brendan Gaughan isn't letting the pressure of a tight, four-way battle for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship get to him.

Lobos capture LV title: Adam Candee; Anthem Country Club is beginning to rival Albuquerque as home for the New Mexico women's golf team.

Schwikert headed to UCLA: Gymnastics world champion Tasha Schwikert was one of a number of area high school athletes to sign national letters of intent on Wednesday.

Furio selected for local all-star game: Furio, a 6-3, 295-pound native of San Pedro, Calif., will suit up for the West team on Jan. 17, 2004, at Sam Boyd Stadium. A four-year letterman, Furio was among more than 100 college seniors invited to play. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Pedregon, Force opt to part ways: It's official: Tony Pedregon, the 2003 NHRA Funny car champion, is parting ways with John Force Racing.

First significant rain in two months leads to accidents: Rain poured down in the Las Vegas Valley and snow piled up on Mount Charleston as the first hint of winter blasted through Southern Nevada on Wednesday.

News briefs for Nov. 13, 2003: Residents, environmentalists and union members opposed to the proposed Red Rock Station were expected to activate a website today: www.saveredrock.org.

6 CCSN players sign Div. I letters: Jeff Jacobsen became the sixth Community College of Southern Nevada baseball player to sign with a major Division I program Wednesday, the first day of the early-signing period.

Obituaries for Nov. 13, 2003: Amey Alesna, 76, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local care center. She was born April 17, 1927, in Honolulu. A resident for three years, she was a retired school district food manager.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Let's not push Robinson out the door: Any inquiries into the "future of the program," which is the politically correct way to address whether a college football coach will be pressured into resigning, are a minimum of three weeks away at UNLV.

Groups attack Patriot Act: Jean Reid Norman and Dan Kulin; A statewide campaign was being launched today to seek the repeal of parts of the federal Patriot Act.

Homecoming week for Harrington: As a kid growing up in Oregon, Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington always had a Steve Largent poster hanging on his bedroom wall.

Editorial: Unfathomable release: It is incomprehensible that someone like Garren, especially when you also consider his past record, could find his way out of jail. Garren, who goes by the nickname "Shotgun," was on parole after having served almost 13 years in a Nevada state prison for a number of armed robberies in Las Vegas. He shot one individual during a robbery. While Garren is suspected of being involved in the murder of Weber, police also believe he is responsible for robberies in Las Vegas and Pahrump.

DOE scientists still reviewing data on Yucca Mountain: Despite Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham's confidence that the Energy Department, by December 2004, will submit a license application for building a Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, scientists still hunting for information to prove the site is safe are not as certain they'll meet the deadline.

The best and worst blackjack games: Following are the worst blackjack games in Las Vegas:

Letter: Casinos are wasting water: Yet all these casinos can waste all the water they want. That's what money does for you, I guess.

Letter: Those who are corrupt should blame themselves: Individuals who were elected on their reputations and spoken promises have betrayed those words and have proven that they have no respect for the public. Those politicians who have pleaded guilty are a disgrace to the citizens of Clark County. Those who are awaiting trial have only themselves to blame for the current situation. The politicians who are in trouble need to look no farther than the mirror to see who got them into trouble. Then they should look at their constituents, friends and family members and accept credit for their current situation. After all, they have been looking us ...

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Tired of gambling on politicians: Ruthe Deskin; We can't. It's like the roll of dice. What comes up, comes up.

Taking a hit: New blackjack odds further tilt advantage toward the house: Poker Palace in North Las Vegas offers a gimmicky single-deck game in which blackjacks pay even money, but the deck is dealt out all the way to the last card. With a paltry $50 maximum bet and a large house advantage, this game is considered a mere curiosity piece.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: A worthy performance: Many of us are old enough to remember warmly that Jimmy Stewart classic, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." For those who are staring blankly at this page, rent the movie or find it on cable because it is one of those celluloid marvels that will warm your heart, instill a sense of pride within your confused American breast, and make you proud of the people who perform public service for all the right reasons.

LV High grad keeps F-16 flying in Italy: Dick Benoit; A Las Vegas High School class of 2001 graduate is keeping an F-16 fighter ready to fly missions in Italy. Airman 1st Class Matthew Jackson, son of James Jackson of Las Vegas, is an F-16 maintenance crew chief with the 555th Fighter Squadron deployed to Aviano Air Base.

Gaming briefs for Nov. 13, 2003: ATLANTA -- A Georgia man held two of three winning tickets for a $70 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot, good for a cash option prize of $26.6 million before taxes, lottery officials said.

Guinn defends use of tobacco money: On Wednesday morning, when the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids issued a report deriding Nevada and the rest of the nation for not spending enough of tobacco settlement money on tobacco prevention, the state task force in charge of disbursing 50 percent of that money was listening to presentations on homelessness and school meals, not tobacco prevention or related health care issues.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- FORLAAN -- Draws outside post in six-horse field for route opener, Espinoza on Bonde trainee, going good right now. PARA USTED -- Draws inner box for two-turn claimer, Martinez aboard O'Neill trainee, fond of Inglewood oval. Value Play -- MOVING'S GOLD

Bill's environmental rules won't affect Nellis: Jace Radke and Suzanne Struglinski; The provision in the defense authorization bill exempting the Defense Department from complying with some aspects of the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act probably won't have much of an effect on Nellis Air Force Base.

Letter: Medicare drug benefit needed: Millions of Medicare beneficiaries do not have prescription drug benefits and many go without necessary medications because they simply can't afford them. Now it's up to Congress to make sure prescription drug coverage becomes more broadly available, by strengthening the program that so many seniors have come to rely on.

Letter: Superfund status for copper mine: The corporations which have benefited from all of the copper taken from that mine now need to step up to the plate and put some of that money back into cleaning up the resultant mess.

Matchbox Twenty doesn't disappoint packed house: Ken Miller; The Orlando, Fla.-based quintet, fronted by the ever-strutting, chest-thumping Rob Thomas, cranked out no fewer than 20 songs to a well-behaved capacity audience at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Editorial: Girl's death warrants a full report: Before the funeral services for Tabitha on Tuesday, her father, Michael Speas, talked to a Las Vegas Sun reporter. "I wonder if the hospital did let her out too soon," he said. "I don't know if I'll ever have any answers." Earlier, the Sun had spoken with a neighbor of the family, who is a registered nurse. The nurse, who had checked on Tabitha after her release from the hospital, told the Sun that the girl had said, "They shouldn't have let me out. It wasn't time." The nurse also said that the family had told her they were without ...

Guinn appoints 33 locals to state boards: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn Wednesday announced the appointment of Bonnie Bryan, wife of former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan, to the state Board of Dental Examiners.

Trade deficit at record high: The latest snapshot of the country's trade activity showed that the trade gap grew by 4.4 percent in September from August's $39.5 billion imbalance, the Commerce Department reported today. September's trade deficit was slightly larger than the $40.2 billion shortfall that economists were forecasting.

Education Board member seeks ethics guidance: CARSON CITY -- John Hawk, an elected member of the state Board of Education from Henderson, has asked the state Ethics Commission for guidance on voting on charter-school issues.

Correction: Correction

Wal-Mart posts earnings increase: Wal-Mart posts earnings increase

Aviation history will be on display at Nellis show: Jace Radke; Attractions ranging from a replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer to the Air Force's newest weapon, the FA-22 Raptor, will be on display this weekend at Nellis Air Force Base as part of one of the state's largest public events.

Community briefs for Nov. 13, 2003: The foundation Through the Eyes of a Child will present a Tea and Fashion Show from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Red Rock Country Club, 2466 Grassy Springs Place.

LVCVA reports tourism up 3.5 percent in September: The LVCVA said convention attendance was up 6.3 percent to 271,213 people and the total room occupancy level was up 2.8 points to 82.9 percent. The average daily room rate was up 6.1 percent for the month to $80.66.

Murder suspect is back in jail: Jennifer Knight; Moments after Garren was captured at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Terrible's Casino on Paradise Road, he turned to police and said, "Hey, they just let me go," Lt. Jim Moses of Metro's Criminal Apprehension Team said.

Binion's hit with labor complaint: Alana Roberts; The Las Vegas office of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint against Binion's Horseshoe hotel-casino on behalf of a former employee who was terminated -- allegedly because he had distributed information about a discount health plan to other employees.

Juvenile judge to take case to Supreme Court: Erica D. Johnson; Family Court Judge Cynthia Dianne Steel has taken her battle to extend her term as juvenile judge to the state Supreme Court, and she doesn't plan to leave her post without a fight.

Stiffer penalties sought in pedestrian cases: Ed Koch and Dan Kulin; An activist group that promotes safety on the roads says it will seek a change in Nevada law in the 2005 Legislature to stiffen penalties for motorists who, because of inattentive driving, seriously injure or kill pedestrians.

Las Vegas office park to expand after sale: Jennifer Shubinski; An ownership change at the Hughes Center office park in midtown Las Vegas will likely result in more first-class office construction at the park and brings back to Las Vegas a company already known in the city because of a failed gaming merger in the 1990s.

Las Vegas receives an additional $10.5 million for homeland security: Jace Radke; The Department of Homeland Security has allocated an additional $10.5 million to enhance overall security in Las Vegas.

Land sales money will go to Tahoe: The language by Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., amends the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 so that money gained from land auctions can be used for restoration efforts at Lake Tahoe.

Nevada students improve on tests: By Emily Richmond; Nevada's fourth and eighth graders made strong gains in mathematics proficiency on the latest National Assessment of Education Progress, also known as the nation's report card, which was released this morning.

Nevada Power plan for growth advances: The plan also authorizes the pursuit of new long-term power contracts to serve customer demand between 2004-2006 and directs the utility to negotiate a deal with the Southern Nevada Water Authority for Nevada Power to buy the Water Authority's surplus power.

High court weighs suit over alleged utility overbillings: CARSON CITY -- Nevada Power Co., accused of overbilling more than 500 customers in Clark County for 20-30 years, says this dispute should be decided by the state Public Service Commission that regulates the rates of utilities.

Adults' role in teen crash is probed: By Emily Richmond; Henderson Police are investigating whether adults allowed alcohol to be consumed at a house party hours before three teenagers died and two were badly injured in a car wreck.

Authorities aim to ban LV pedicab operations: Adam Goldman; Bill Jones makes an adjustment to his pedicab and pedals onto the Las Vegas Strip where he is swallowed by a sea of evening traffic.

Fitzgeralds' loss widens on occupancy weakness: By Liz Benston; The Indiana-based parent company of the Fitzgeralds hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas on Wednesday announced plans to restructure the property so it can have greater financial flexibility to pursue upgrades and other capital spending projects.

Nevada Power's parent reports better results: Kevin Rademacher; Dramatically lower purchased power costs and higher demand for power to run air conditioning units during the summer months drove profits at Sierra Pacific Resources up 9.4 percent in the third quarter.

Rate hike approved: The commission -- with a 3-0 vote -- granted the increase requested by the company in an annual "purchased gas adjustment" case submitted last summer. The increase allows the company to recover the cost of purchasing gas between November 2002 and October 2003.